The future of passenger cars is electric.

That seems a foregone conclusion.

And even with heavy trucks, electric transport is apparently gaining momentum more and more.

Daimler Truck is currently appearing for the first time as an independent company at the Commercial Vehicles IAA in Hanover and has brought along one of the most important vehicles at the trade fair, the Mercedes-Benz E-Actros Longhaul (long-distance).

The tractor is still a prototype, but the first tests on public roads are scheduled to take place this year, and production readiness should be reached in 2024.

Boris Schmidt

Editor in the "Technology and Engine" department.

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A range of 500 kilometers is promised, loaded of course.

Up to 22 tons of payload are possible, the total weight of tractor and trailer may be 42 tons.

That's two tons more than usual, which takes the weight of the batteries into account.

These have a capacity of more than 600 kWh, batteries with lithium iron phosphate are used, and ideally they can be charged from 20 to 80 percent in 45 minutes with 400 kW.

In contrast to the previous electric Mercedes trucks (E-Actros or E-Econic), the Longhaul works with 800 instead of 400 volt technology.

It will be possible to charge it with 1000 kW as soon as there are such megawatt stations.

This is not expected until 2024 at the earliest, when it will take "significantly less" than 30 minutes to fill the battery from 20 to 80 percent.

The tractor is powered by two electric motors on the rear axle, the continuous output is 544 hp (400 kW) and the peak output is 816 hp (600 kW).

The axle is completely new, it is manufactured at the Kassel plant, and the E-Actros Longhaul itself is to be produced at the Wörth plant from 2024 on a line with conventional trucks.

Daimler Truck believes that by 2030 it will be able to offer 60 percent of its vehicles in the European markets as CO2-neutral.

Ten years later, there will be no more diesel trucks with the star in Europe, North America and Japan.

There is still a long way to go, and Wörth also knows that.

The Longhaul is designed for a mileage of 1.2 million kilometers, just like its diesel-powered brothers.

Daimler has not yet given any specific information on the costs for the end customer, but hopes to be able to achieve cost parity with diesel by 2024.

The individual truck might still be more expensive, but benefits like lower tolls and lower maintenance costs would help.

Of course, the manufacturer also knows that without the right infrastructure, the dream of long-distance electric transport is quickly over.

Daimler wants to take care of the infrastructure together with other manufacturers and will not neglect hydrogen technology.

A dual strategy is being used, it was said during a preview of the E-Actros Longhaul at the Wörth plant.